Transcript Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training
What is Curricular Practical Training ?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an
employment opportunity, in the United
States, available to an international
student in their field of study, while in
valid F-1 visa status.
Curricular Practical Training
In order to be considered CPT the
experience must be an “integral part of
the established curriculum” and
“directly related to the field of study”.
Types of
Curricular Practical Training
“Coop or required” training, which is a
required part of the curriculum for the
degree program, always meets the
requirements for curricular practical
training.
Credit-bearing training opportunities that
are an integral part of a program of study
may be used for CPT. *
*Two Exceptions
MBA Students
The CCB does not provide for paid
internships for credit. The student may
only register for a zero credit course.
Law School Students
American Bar Association regulations
require that an internship must be either
for credit or for pay. It may not be both.
Eligibility for
Curricular Practical Training
In order to be eligible a student must
currently be in valid F-1 status, and
have been enrolled for one full
academic year.
Eligibility exceptions for
Curricular Practical Training
A student who applies for and is
granted a reinstatement to F-1 may be
eligible for CPT if they had accumulated
a minimum of the one full academic
year prior to falling out of status.
If they did not accumulate one full
academic year prior to reinstatement
the “year “ begins after the
reinstatement is granted.
Eligibility exceptions for
Curricular Practical Training
Students who have had an authorized
reduced course load during the first full
academic year are still able to apply for,
and receive approval for CPT.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
Students must apply for and use CPT prior to the
completion of the academic program.
Any student who have completed all their academic
credits and/or have already begun thesis or project
continuation are not eligible to apply for CPT at
UMass Dartmouth.
Approval will not be given for a CPT if the credits are
in excess beyond the amount required and/or are not
necessary to complete degree program.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
The training may be full time (more
than twenty hours per week) or part
time (twenty hours or less per week).
Certain conditions apply that determine
whether the CPT can be full or part
time.
CPT can be during vacation time or
during the semester.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
Students may apply for full or part time
CPT during their winter or summer
vacations as long as it is accompanied
by registration for an approved and in
most cases a credit bearing course with
the UMass Dartmouth Professional and
Continuing Education.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
Students may only apply for part time
CPT during the Fall or Spring semester
with one exception:
Exception to part time
Curricular Practical Training
during the semester:
If it is the last semester of credit courses of
the student’s academic program, AND the
student is pre-approved for a reduced course
load (RCL), AND the one course approved for
the RCL and CPT is the last course they will
need to take for their degree program, then
the CPT can be full time.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
A student who participates in a study abroad must
have fulfilled the “one full academic year”
requirement prior to the study abroad experience in
order to be eligible for CPT when they return.
Study abroad outside of the United State, if longer
than five months, is considered to be more than a
temporary absence and could impact on the
continuity of a student’s F-1 status and therefore on
CPT eligibility.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
The curriculum of the particular degree
program determines how much full time
CPT a student may take.
However, any student who is enrolled in
12 months or more of full time CPT is
no longer eligible for 12 months of OPT
at that particular degree level.
Time and
Curricular Practical Training
At UMass Dartmouth, given the current structure of the
academic programs, CPT is authorized by the semester,
including the winter intercession and the summer sessions
sponsored by Professional and Continuing Education (PCE).
The time frame for CPT for the Fall and Spring terms is from the
first day of the semester until the last day of finals. Summer
CPT starts on a designated date just after the Commencement
ceremony through the day before the Fall term begins. NO CPT
will be approved after July 1 for the summer.
Each semester or session requires a separate CPT authorization.
An employer letter, department authorization and proof of
registration is required for each CPT authorization
Applying for
Curricular Practical Training
If a student meets the above stated
eligibility and time requirements they
must :
be registered for the credit bearing course
have a written approval from their department
stating that course is an integral part of the
degree program (See Sample Letters)
have an confirmed offer of employment
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
The student must attend a CPT workshop sponsored by the International
Student & Scholar Center (ISSC)
The student will discuss the CPT with their Academic Advisor, determining the
feasibility of a CPT experience in the particular degree program. The department
must agree that if any credits are acquired during the CPT will be used as part
of the degree audit for certification. They cannot be an “extra course”. The
student will be required to present an academic paper at the completion of the
CPT course.
The student may be required, at the end of the CPT, to provide documentation
including but not limited to a letter from the company at the end of the CPT
acknowledging that the student accepted and fulfilled the original job
requirements.
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
The student will seek and acquire a CPT employment
opportunity which is in their field of study.
The student will request a signed offer of employment on
company letterhead stating the following:
beginning and end dates of employment,
the number of hours per week they will work,
the salary,
the duties of the position,
full name, and full address of company location where they
will be working.
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
Student will return to their academic advisor
and request CPT approval letter on the
Department’s University letterhead. No
electronic approvals will be accepted by the
ISSC
The approval letter must be signed by faculty
person, who will be responsible for awarding
the course credit, the Dean of the College
and Department Chair (undergraduates) or
Graduate Program Director and the Associate
Provost for Academic Affairs (graduates) .
Sample letters for Curricular
Practical Training
The letter format and signatures will
vary according to the type of CPT and
whether the student is undergraduate,
graduate and/or coop.
Students should use the sample format
from the ISSC for their particular
situation.
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
The student will register for the course that
will be considered CPT. During the winter and
summer sessions the registration will be with
PCE and payment for the course will be based
on the number of credits and whether it is
undergraduate or graduate credits. Proof of
payment can accompany winter and summer
session CPT approval requests in lieu of
actual registration document.
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
Student submits documents to the
International Student & Scholar Center
Student brings an original letter of
employment, original signed letter from
department and proof of enrollment for
course(s)
Applying for Curricular Practical
Training at UMass Dartmouth
The ISSC staff person will access the SEVIS
database record and approve the student for
CPT for the dates stated on the letter of
employment and the signed approval letter
from your academic department.
The student will receive a new I-20 which will
list the approval for the CPT and the dates
approved for the CPT on new page three.
On Curricular Practical Training
A student in Curricular Practical Training
is still considered to be in F-1 status.
Status must be maintained according to
the regulations.
If the CPT requires a change of address
even for a summer or semester, this
must be reported to the ISSC within ten
days of the move.
Any Questions?